Rescue of the Bounty

Disaster and Survival in Superstorm Sandy

By: Michael J. Tougias, Douglas A. Campbell

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Rescue of the Bounty is the harrowing story of the sinking and rescue of Bounty - the tall ship used in the classic 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty - which was caught in the path of Hurricane Sandy with 16 aboard.

On Thursday, October 25, 2012, Captain Robin Walbridge made the fateful decision to sail Bounty from New London, Connecticut, to St. Petersburg, Florida. Walbridge was well aware that a hurricane was forecast to travel north from the Caribbean toward the Eastern Seaboard. Yet the captain was determined to sail. As he explained to his crew of 15: A ship is always safer at sea than in port. He intended to sail around the hurricane and told the crew that anyone who did not want to come on the voyage could leave the ship - there would be no hard feelings. As fate would have it, no one took the captain up on his offer.

Four days into the voyage, Superstorm Sandy made an almost direct hit on Bounty. The vessel's failing pumps could not keep up with the incoming water. The ship began to lose power as it was beaten and rocked by hurricane winds that spanned 800 miles. A few hours later, in the dark of night, the ship suddenly overturned 90 miles off the North Carolina coast, in the "Graveyard of the Atlantic", sending the crew tumbling into an ocean filled with towering 30-foot waves. The Coast Guard then launched one of the most complex and massive rescues in its history, flying two Jayhawk helicopter crews into the hurricane and lowering rescue swimmers into the raging seas again and again, despite the danger to their own lives.

In the uproar heard across American media in the days following, a single question persisted: Why did the captain decide to sail?

©2014 Michael J. Tougias and Douglas A. Campbell (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Great book, I could not stop listening once I was was at about chapter 12 or so

Loved the overall story, had toured the Bounty ( in Connecticut I think) a year or so before it sank and at the St. Pier many years ago…I know many people in the Coast Guard which also made it a great book to better understand their duty, commitment to saving lives and everything that happens behind the scenes so that many of us gave the opportunity to experience a tour of this ship as well as learn about history of tall ships.

Tall Ship Down

Excellent account of sinking of Bounty. Both detailed and engrossing. The narrative gives clues as to who survived and who did not by including first person after the fact information. Yet this does not take away from the suspense. Readers of tales from the age of sail will enjoy this listen.

Well done

Just long enough to tell the story but not be boring - Big fan of Michael Tougias and his books - this one doesn't disappoint - good listen

Tragedy at Sea

I read a version of this in a magazine years ago. This fills in the blanks without a lot of unnecessary backstory (yes, there was a lot more!). Well written and narrated. Such a terrible loss.... And The Bounty had one more
drama left in her, sadly, during Hurricane Sandy and she didn't stand a chance. Regardless. it was very good to listen to, learn about. In fact, I couldn't stop until it was finished! Thank you!

Great story

This is a great story and the narration is great as well. I recommend this book.

. Awesome

Awesome, never knew anything about the ship moves and all the history of them let alone the search and rescue mission

Thanks

I held off on this book for a while. I was afraid of how Robin would be portrayed. I knew Robin he was a friend of mine. I was on The Rose in Quebec when he rebuilt the Detroit Diesel in less then 48 hours. This is a fair depiction of Robin. I did some work on the bounty. Robin had vision for the bounty. He brought it from almost a derelict ship. To a viable sailing training ship.

Three years after this tragedy the El Faro sank in hurricane Jaquine. Both these tragedies come down to the decision to risk out maneuvering a hurricane or avoid a hurricane or weather

These decisions were one in the a career of a good captains that killed people. Hopefully we can learn from their mistakes.

I enjoyed sailing with Robin. The fact that 14 of 16 survived that storm is a testament to his training and leadership. Unfortunately he made a bad decision to sail that day.

Thanks again for your the thorough research.
Hopefully we learn from this.

Really good story.

I have met Michael Tougias. He is a very good speaker and writer. The story is very well written and very interesting.

OUTSTANDING READ!

Very well done! Both very informative and enjoyable! A true sea adventure - thank you!

Always check your bilge pump

It's the very human story of the people who sailed the Bounty. It's a story of the glory and perils of trying to keep a historic ship floating with volunteers and the struggle for capital. In the end a good captain who made the mistake of going out in an unprecedented storm with a damaged ship and an unqualified crew resulted in his death, the death of one of his crew and the loss of the ship. If only they had taken action when the pump pressure was low washing the deck and checked that the fuel filters were correct before leaving port it might have ended differently. Don't judge the captain too harshly, it very nearly worked.